And it might not be safe

Cost and effectiveness aside, the FDA also cautioned about the safety of triclosan and the other chemicals.

The manufacturers haven’t proven that those ingredients are safe for daily use over a long period of time.

Triclosan is an incredibly common ingredient found in thousands of products besides soap, such as toothpaste, deodorant, fabric, toys and cleaning products, to name just a few. It’s so common, in fact, that it can be detected in the urine of 75% of people tested. Yuck!

Triclosan has already been banned from many products in Canada and Europe. There is evidence that it not only interferes with hormonal function, but also contributes to the rise of antibiotic resistant bacteria.

So why isn’t triclosan being banned from other products? I don’t know, but I’ve refused for a long time to use toothpastes that contain triclosan.

Colgate Total, for example, is marketed as reducing gum disease (gingivitis). It costs a lot more than regular fluoride toothpaste (I like plain Crest paste), and I doubt any benefit outweighs the safety risk or extra cost.